Tatsunoko Production

Tatsunoko Production (株式会社タツノコプロ) is a Japanese animation studio founded by Tatsuo Yoshida and his brothers Kenji and Toyoharu (better known by his pen name Ippei Kuri) on October 16, 1962.  The name of the company is a play on words, translating as "Tatsu's child" (Tatsu was Tatsuo's nickname) or "Sea Dragon" which inspired the company's seahorse logo.

The company was made famous for creating many popular anime shows of the 1960s and 70s, The most prominent being Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, the Time Bokan franchise, Mach Go Go Go (aka Speed Racer in the USA), and Tekkaman the Space Knight, as well as doing animation work for other studios' series (such as Macross, as well as Neon Genesis Evangelion).

On June 3rd, 2005, the company was sold to Takara-Tomy to ensure its continued longevity. It was later acquired in 2014 by the Nippon Television Network Corporation, controlling a 54% share of the company as a way of moving the projects they own in-house to the studio and licensing their properties to overseas distributors. Horipro and Production IG also hold shares in the company, with IG having originally spun off from Tatsunoko in 1987.

The official trade name of the company from its founding and for many decades was 株式会社竜の子プロダクション, though after March 2013, the "Tatsunoko" part would be simplified and rendered in katakana.

Through 1978 to 1982, Tatsunoko also ran its own newsclub letter to inform fans of upcoming releases.

Manga

Before becoming known as an animation studio, Tatsunoko started out as a company to manage copyrights of manga works created by the brothers. The works below were either written or illustrated by them, sometimes with more than one brother involved in the collaborative process. Some works also predated the Tatsunoko association, but were the break-out hits for the Yoshida brothers.

While there appear to be no manga solely penned by Kenji Yoshida, he often assisted on his brothers' manga under the alias of Kenji Maruyama whether for writing or artwork.

Works by Tatsuo Yoshida

• Iron Arm Rikiya: March 1955 to December 1957, Shonen and Shojo Adventure King. Work written by Ikki Kajiwara.
• World Boys' Team (世界少年隊): 1957 to 1958, Omoshiro Book. Work written by Takehiko Takada.
• Champion Futoshi (チャンピオン太): Work written by Ikki Kajiwara.
• Harris Mudan (ハリス無段): Work written by Ikki Kajiwara.
• Pilot Ace (パイロットA(エース)): November 1960 to April 1964, Shonen Gaho.
• Falcon Q (はやぶさQ): 1961 to 1963, Bokura.
• Run, Falcon (走れはやぶさ): July 1962 to March 1963, Fun 3rd Grader. Work written by Kenji Maruyama.
• 0 Battle Champion (0戦チャンピオン): August 1962 to September 1963, Bokura. Work written by Ikki Kajiwara.
• Boy Ninja Squad Moonlight (少年忍者部隊月光): 1963 to 1965, Weekly Shonen King. Original concept planned by Katsumaru Tatsumi (under the alias of Masato Tenma).
• Big Sky Sanshiro (大空三四郎): October 1963 to August 1964, Bokura. Work written by Ikki Kajiwara.
• Space Ace (宇宙エース): July 1964 to May 1966, Shonen Book. Ghostwritten by Masato Tenma, with art by Tatsuo Yoshida.
• Mach Go Go Go (マッハGoGoGo): June 1966 to April 1968, Shonen Book. Work written by Kenji Maruyama.
• Boy Sharp (少年シャープ): 1966, Elementary School 2nd Grade and Elementary School 3rd Grade.

Works by Ippei Kuri

• Rampaging Tengu (あばれ天狗): Two kashihon volumes published December 25, 1958 and April 23, 1959. Shimomura Publishing.
• Z Boy (Ｚボーイ): July to December 1959, Hinomaru.
• Missile Kintaro (ミサイル金太郎): October 1959 to September 1960, Manga King.
• Mach Sanshiro (マッハ三四郎): February 21, 1960 to December 24, 1961, Weekly Shonen Magazine. Work written by Minoru Kume, Tatsuo Yoshida.
• Undersea Man 8823 (海底人８８２３): January to December 1960, Shonen. Work written by Ken Kuronuma.
• 000 Directive (指令０００): February to November 1961, Adventure King.
• Judo Boy (ジュードー・ボーイ): January 1961 to March 1962, Shonen Book. Work written by Yutaka Arai, Tatsuo Yoshida.
• Boy Speed King (少年スピード王): April 1961 to February 1962, Shonen. Work written by Minoru Kume.
• Marine Boys Corps. (海洋少年隊): August to November 1961, Primary School Studies. Also serialized in Manga King from December 1961 to December 1962.
• Speed Bun-chan (スピードぶんちゃん): 1962, Elementary School 1st Grade.
• Tester Z (テスターZ): March to December 1962, Shonen. Written by Kenji Maruyama.
• Fighter Ken (ファイター健): May 1962 to April 1963, Shonen Book. Written by Tatsuo Yoshida.
• Heaven's Oath Part 1 (大空のちかい 1): November 4, 1962 to December 15, 1963, Weekly Shonen Sunday. Ghostwritten by Masato Tenma, with art by Kuri.
• Malay White Tiger Squad (マレー白虎隊 ): May to December 1963, Shonen Book. Ghostwritten by Masato Tenma, with art by Kuri.
• Heaven's Oath Part 2 (大空のちかい 2): January 10th to May 3rd, 1964, Weekly Shonen Sunday. Ghostwritten by Masato Tenma, with art by Kuri.
• Rikimaru of the Wind (風の力丸): April 1964 to March 1965, Junior High 1st Year.
• Bullet Boy (弾丸児): July 9, 1967 to March 31, 1968, Weekly Shonen Sunday.
• Sanshiro Kurenai (紅三四郎): July 28th to November 17, 1968, Weekly Shonen Sunday. It was meant to be a media-mix with the anime, but it took a while for the Sanshiro anime to be greenlit.

Media Mix Works by Tatsunoko Production's Copyright Department

While Tatsuo Yoshida and Tatsunoko would be credited to these, he had no involvement, with the writing and art usually being handled by other manga authors or assistants at Tatsunoko through the Copyright Department such as Masato Tenma.

• I'm Gazula (おらぁグズラだど): 1969, Weekly Shonen Sunday. Credited to Tatsuo Yoshida but actually penned by Rentaro Itai.
• Dokachin (ドカチン): #29 1968 to #11 1969, Weekly Shonen Sunday. Credited to Tatsuo Yoshida but actually penned by Rentaro Itai.
• Sanshiro Kurenai (紅三四郎): #10 to #13 for 1969, Weekly Shonen Jump. Credited to Tatsuo Yoshida but actually penned by Mamoru Uchiyama.
• Hakushon Daimao (ハクション大魔王): 1969 to 1970, Fun Kindergarten. By Masato Tenma and Mamoru Uchiyama.
• The Insect Story of Orphan Hutch (昆虫物語みなしごハッチ): May to October 1970, Elementary School 2nd Grade. By Mamoru Uchiyama.
• I'm Chiroro (ぼくチロロ): 1971-1973, 2nd Year Science. Illustrated novelized version of the scrapped Chiroro anime project.
• Go! Falcon Light (行け！ハヤブサライト): 1974, Childrens' Light. By Masato Tenma and Akio Kikuchi.
• Go! Falcon Light (行け！ハヤブサライト):, 1974, Sun Attack Action. Colored picture book retelling of the above manga.

Tatsunoko Nursery Rhyme Picture Book Series (Sun Planning)

(竜の子童謡絵本シリーズ )

These picture books came with sonosheet discs, to tell the stories and songs of different nursery rhyme characters Tatsunoko had developed. Masato Tenma was in charge of the story (except for volumes 8 and 13), while Tatsuo Yoshida wrote out the song lyrics and composed the music.

Ippei Kuri drew the initial illustrations, while later ones were provided by Hideo Genda and Akiko Shimamoto. Yoshida's three daughters were also involved in singing the songs.

16 volumes were published in total.

• Volume 1: Chabo and Nyankuroke (チャボとニャンクロケ, January 20, 1972)
• Volume 2: Gyakkyakya Flamenco (キャッキャッキャフラメンコ)
• Volume 3: Crybaby KonKon (なきべそコンコン)
• Volume 4: Bye Bye Hotaru (バイバイほたる)
• Volume 5: We Found a Cute Puppy (かわいいこいぬみつけたよ)
• Volume 6: Crab Crab Hawaiian (かにかにハワイアン)
• Volume 7: Petty Thief Chuchu (こそどろちゅっちゅ)
• Volume 8: Foolish Kan-chan ( ずっこけカンちゃん)
• Volume 9: My Kokeshi (わたしのこけし)
• Volume 10: Who's That! The Naughty One (だあれ！いたずらさん)
• Volume 11: Go Go Origami-san (ごーごーおりがみさん)
• Volume 12: Bu Bu Hoankan (ブーブーほあんかん)
• Volume 13: The Baby Dolphin Attacked by a Shark (サメにおわれたイルカの子)
• Volume 14: The Grass is in the Earth (どうしてもぐらはつちのなか)
• Volume 15: The Siamese Cat Shan (シャムネコ シャン)
• Volume 16: Pompoko Samba (ポンポコサンバ)

Departments at Tatsunoko

In the days of Tatsunoko being an independent studio, its production system was split across several departments in the same building, although there would gradually be cases of the animation being outsourced to other studios like Tama Production or to South Korea.

The Character Room

This department was under the control of Tatsuo Yoshida until his death. Character designs for works would be created here. Artists like Yoshitaka Amano, Akemi Takada, and Noa Kawai (Akiko Shimamoto) would get their start here at the company.

Planning and Literature

A department where new series would be written and pitched, and then progress further into episode scripts if they were greenlit. Jinzo Toriumi headed this department for many years, with others like Satoshi Suyama, Akiyoshi Sakai, Takao Koyama, and Shigeru Yanagawa taking part in different planning.

"Tatsuo Yoshida, who was the president at the time, would bring in drawings of new characters and say things like, "How about this for the next work?" and we would come up with plans based on those drawings. Conversely, Tatsuo would read our proposals and draw character illustrations based on them. When I think about it like that, I think Tatsuo was the one who created Tatsunoko's color." - Sakai

Art Club

Headed by Mitsuki Nakamura. This department was in charge of backgrounds and mechanical design for series. Kunio Okawara, Kikuko Tada, and many others were also prolific here.

Direction Department

Hiroshi Sasagawa was in charge of this department. Seitaro Hara, Hisayuki Toriumi, Koichi Mashita, Hidehito Ueda, and many others were active here as well.

Publishing and Copyright

A department responsible for managing the copyrights of works as well as publishing media-mix ventures for them such as manga adaptations and picture books.

Commercial Department

Produced commercials related to the company.

Animated Series

Some of Tatsunoko's library have suggested alternative international titles that may or may not be used in other countries, noted in parentheses.

1960s

• Space Ace (宇宙エース): May 8, 1965 to April 28, 1966 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• Mach Go Go Go (マッハGoGoGo, aka Speed Racer): April 2, 1967 to March 31, 1968 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• I'm Gazula (おらぁグズラだど): October 7, 1967 to September 25, 1968 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa, based from his short manga stories The Shabby Monster Gazula.
• Dokachin (ドカチン): October 2, 1968 to March 26, 1969 (Fuji TV). Directed by Seitaro Hara, Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• Sanshiro Kurenai (紅三四郎, Judo Boy): April 2nd to September 24th 1969 (Fuji TV). Directed by Ippei Kuri.
• Hakushon Daimao (ハクション大魔王, The Genie Family, aka Bob in a Bottle): October 5, 1969 to September 27, 1970 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Originally pitched under the title Heaven is a Great Place (天国よいとこ), based off the lyrics of the 1968 song Kaettekita Yopparai by The Folk Crusaders.

1970s

• The Insect Story of Orphan Hutch (昆虫物語みなしごハッチ, The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee aka Honeybee Hutch): April 7, 1970 to December 28, 1971 (Fuji TV). Directed by Ippei Kuri.
• Inakappe Taisho (いなかっぺ大将, The Funny Judo Champion): October 4, 1970 to September 24, 1972 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa, and adapted from the manga by Noboru Kawasaki.
• Kabatotto (カバトット, Hyppo and Thomas, The Wacky World of Tic & Tac): January 1, 1971 to September 30, 1972 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• Decision (決断): April 3rd to September 26th, 1971 (Nippon Television). Directed by Ippei Kuri.
• Mokku of the Oak Tree (樫の木モック, The Adventures of Pinocchio): January 4th to December 26th, 1972 (Fuji TV). Directed by Seitaro Hara.
• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (科学忍者隊ガッチャマン, aka Battle of the Planets, and G-Force: Guardians of Space): October 1, 1972 to September 29, 1974 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hisayuki Toriumi. Also known as Production No. 21.
• Tamagon the Counselor (かいけつタマゴン, Eggzavier the Eggasaurus): October 5, 1972 to September 28, 1973 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• Kerokko Demetan (けろっこデメタン, Demetan Croaker, the Frog Boy, aka The Brave Frog and Adventures on Rainbow Pond): January 2nd to September 25th, 1973 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Originally pitched under the title Demetan's Love Story (デメタン恋の物語).
• Neo Human Casshan (新造人間キャシャーン): October 2, 1973 to June 25, 1974 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Originally pitched under the title Androider Joji (アンドロイダー・ジョージ).
• The New Insect Story of Orphan Hutch (昆虫物語　新みなしごハッチ, The New Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee): April 5th to September 27th, 1974 (NET). Directed by Seitaro Hara.
• Urikupen Rescue Team (ウリクペン救助隊, Jungle Tales): September 30, 1974 to March 29, 1975 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• Hurricane Polymar (破裏拳ポリマー): October 4, 1974 to March 28, 1975 (NET). Directed by Hisayuki Toriumi. Known as Production No. 52.
• The Song of Ladybug (てんとう虫の歌): October 6, 1974 to September 26, 1976 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa, and adapted from the manga by Noboru Kawasaki.
• Tekkaman the Space Knight (宇宙の騎士テッカマン): July 2nd to December 24th, 1975 (NET). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa (episodes 1-13) and Hisayuki Toriumi (episodes 14-26).
• Time Bokan (タイムボカン, aka Time Fighters, Time Patrol): October 4, 1975 to December 25, 1976 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Based off the rejected Quick and Simple Tanmar pilot film but reinvented; this new version had the initial pitch name of The Swift Flying Tanmar-Go (すっとびタンマー号)
• Gowapper 5 Godam (ゴワッパー5 ゴーダム, Goliath the Super-Fighter): April 4th to December 29, 1976 (ABC for episodes 1-23, NET for episodes 24-36). Directed by Hisayuki Toriumi. Originally pitched under the title GoGo Gowapper (GoGo ゴワッパー), and also had the later working title of Naughty Rangers Godam (わんぱくレンジャーゴーダム).
• Paul's Miraculous Adventure (ポールのミラクル大作戦, aka Pauly's Mad Mad World): October 3, 1976 to September 11, 1977 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• Time Bokan Series: Yatterman (タイムボカンシリーズ ヤッターマン): January 1, 1977 to January 27, 1979 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Originally pitched under the title of Yatter Dokan (ヤッタードカン).
• Ippatsu Kanta-kun (一発貫太くん): September 18, 1977 to September 24, 1978 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Originally pitched under the title Mud General (どろんこ大将).
• Temple the Balloonist (風船少女テンプルちゃん, aka Tiffany's Traveling Band, Sabrina's Journey): October 1, 1977 to March 25, 1978 (Fuji TV). Directed by Seitaro Hara.
• Take Off! Machine Hiryuu (とびだせ！マシーン飛竜 ): October 5, 1977 to March 29, 1978 (Tokyo Channel 12). Directed by Seitaro Hara.- co-production between Toei and Tatsunoko, Tatsunoko does not count it in their library these days despite it having been planned as one of their works. Takes inspiration from Mach Go Go Go as well as the Time Bokan series.
• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman II (科学忍者隊ガッチャマンII, aka Eagle Riders): October 1, 1978 to September 30, 1979 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• Time Bokan Series: Zenderman (タイムボカンシリーズ ゼンダマン): February 3, 1979 to January 26, 1980 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• Gordian the Warrior (闘士ゴーディアン): October 7, 1979 to February 22, 1981 (Tokyo Channel 12). Directed by Masamune Ochiai and Kunihiko Okazaki.
• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman Fighter (科学忍者隊ガッチャマンF, aka Eagle Riders): October 7, 1979 to August 31, 1980 (Fuji TV). Directed by Seitaro Hara.

1980s

• Cheerful Dwarves of the Forest: Belfy and Lillibit (森の陽気な小人たちベルフィーとリルビット, aka The Littl' Bits): January 7th to July 7th, 1980 (Tokyo Channel 12). Directed by Masayuki Hayashi.
• Time Bokan Series: Time Patrol Team Otasukeman (タイムボカンシリーズ タイムパトロール隊オタスケマン, Rescueman): February 2nd, 1980 to January 31, 1981 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• Muteking the Dashing Warrior (とんでも戦士ムテキング): September 7, 1980 to September 27, 1981 (Fuji TV). Directed by Seitaro Hara.
• Time Bokan Series: Yattodetaman (タイムボカンシリーズ ヤットデタマン, Firebird): February 7, 1981 to February 6, 1982 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Originally pitched under the title of Todorokiman (トドロキマン).
• Golden Warrior Gold Lightan (黄金戦士ゴールドライタン): March 1, 1981 to February 18, 1982 (Tokyo Channel 12). Directed by Koichi Mashita.
• Anime Parents and Children Theatre (アニメ 親子劇場, Superbook): October 1, 1981 to March 25, 1982 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Masakazu Higuchi. The first in the "Tatsunoko Bible Trilogy".
• Dash Kappei (ダッシュ勝平): October 4, 1981 to December 26, 1982 (Fuji TV). Directed by Masayuki Hayashi and Seitaro Hara, and adapted from the manga by Noboru Rokuda.
• Time Bokan Series: Gyakuten! Ippatsuman (タイムボカンシリーズ 逆転イッパツマン): February 13, 1982 to March 26, 1983 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• The Flying House Adventure (トンデラハウスの大冒険, The Flying House): April 5, 1982 to March 28, 1983 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Masakazu Higuchi and Mineo Fuji. The second work in the "Tatsunoko Bible Trilogy".
• Future Policeman Urashiman (未来警察ウラシマン, aka Rock'n Cop): January 9th to December 24th, 1983 (Fuji TV). Directed by Koichi Mashita.
• PC Travel Detectives (パソコントラベル探偵団, Superbook season 2): April 4th to September 26th, 1983 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Masakazu Higuchi. The final work in the "Tatsunoko Bible Trilogy", and sequel to Anime Parents and Children Theatre.
• Time Bokan Series: Itadakiman (タイムボカンシリーズ イタダキマン): April 9th to September 24th, 1983 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Originally pitched under the title Chinyuki Oshakaman (チン遊記オシャカマン).
• Genesis Climber MOSPEADA (機甲創世記モスピーダ): October 2nd, 1983 to March 25, 1984 (Fuji TV). Directed by Katsuhisa Yamada.
• Starzan S (OKAWARI-BOY スターザンS): January 7th to August 25th, 1984 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hidehito Ueda. Originally pitched with the title Starzan, King of the Universe (宇宙の王者スターザン).
• Super Dimensional Cavalry Southern Cross (超時空騎団サザンクロス): April 15th to September 30th, 1984 (TBS). Directed by Yasuo Hasegawa.
• Nice to Meet You, Mecha-Doc (よろしくメカドック): September 1, 1984 to March 30, 1985 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hidehito Ueda, and adapted from the manga by Ryuji Tsugihara.
• Fire of Alpen Rose: Judy and Randy (炎のアルペンローゼ ジュディ&ランディ): April 6th to October 5th, 1985 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hidehito Ueda, and adapted from the manga by Michiyo Akaishi.
• Showa-era Idiot Story Book: Most Refined (昭和アホ草紙あかぬけ一番!, City Boy): October 7, 1985 to March 24, 1986 (TV Asahi). Directed by Hidehito Ueda, and adapted from the manga by Yutaka Azuki.
• The Legend of Hikari (光の伝説): May 3rd to September 20th, 1986 (TV Asahi). Directed by Tomomi Mochizuki, and adapted from the manga by Izumi Aso.
• Doteraman (ドテラマン): October 14, 1986 to February 24, 1987 (Nippon Television). Directed by Sadamitsu Shinya.
• Red Photon Zillion (赤い光弾ジリオン): April 12th to December 13th, 1987 (Nippon Television). Directed by Mizuho Nishikubo.
• I'm Gazula (おらぁグズラだど, color remake of original series): October 12, 1987 to September 20, 1988 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. For this production, the original scripts and episode audio were recycled and new color animation with remixed visual gags was employed.
• Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato (天空戦記シュラト): April 6, 1989 to January 25, 1990 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Mizuho Nishikubo.
• The Insect Story of Orphan Hutch (昆虫物語みなしごハッチ, The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee): July 21, 1989 to August 31, 1990 (Nippon Television). Directed by Iku Suzuki.

1990s

• Legendary Ninja Cats (キャッ党忍伝てやんでえ, aka Samurai Pizza Cats): February 1, 1990 to February 12, 1991 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Kunitoshi Okajima.
• The Great Adventure of Robin Hood (ロビンフッドの大冒険): July 29, 1990 to June 30, 1991. The rest of the series aired from October 12th to 28th of 1992 (NHK Satellite2 Television). Directed by Koichi Mashita.
• Space Knight Tekkaman Blade (宇宙の騎士テッカマンブレード, aka Teknoman): February 18, 1992 to February 2, 1993 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Hiroshi Negishi.
• The Legend of Snow White (白雪姫の伝説): April 6, 1994 to March 29, 1995 (NHK Satellite2 Television). Directed by Kunitoshi Okajima.
• Dokkan! Robotendon (ドッカン!ロボ天どん, Tendon the Robot Boy): October 5, 1995 to March 28, 1996 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• Cinderella Story (シンデレラ物語): April 4th to October 3rd, 1996 (NHK Satellite2 Television). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa and Takaaki Ishiyama.
• Mach Go Go Go (マッハGoGoGo, aka Speed Racer X): January 9th to September 24th, 1997 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Hiroyuki Fukushima (episodes 1-21), followed by Tsuneo Tominaga (episodes 22-34), with Hiroshi Sasagawa overseeing the production.
• Generator Gawl (ジェネレイターガウル): October 6th to December 22nd, 1998 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Seiji Mizushima.

2000s

• Time Bokan 2000: Phantom Thieves Kiramekiman (タイムボカン2000 怪盗きらめきマン, Sparkleman): April 5th to September 27th, 2000 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Hidehito Ueda.
• The SoulTaker ~Soul Hunt~ (The Soul Taker 〜魂狩〜): April 4th to July 4th, 2001 (WOWOW). Directed by Akiyuki Shinbo.
• Call On Me, I'll Jump Out! Akubi-chan (よばれてとびでて!アクビちゃん, Cutey Yawn): December 11, 2001 to March 26, 2002, as well as a second cour from October 1st to November 11, 2002 (Kids Station). Directed by Tomihiko Okubo.
• Akubi Girl (アクビガール): April 2nd to September 30th, 2006 (TVk and other affiliate stations). Directed by Masatsugu Arakawa. Animation production by Studio Ron.
• Time Bokan Series: Yatterman (ヤッターマン): January 14, 2008 to September 27, 2009 (Nippon Television). Directed by Akira Shigino (episodes 1-17), followed by Masakazu Hishida (episodes 18-60).
• Mach Girl (マッハガール): September 13th to 14th, 2008 followed by a run from December 5th to 20th later in the year (Cartoon Network Japan). Directed by Masatsugu Arakawa. Animation production by Studio Ron.
• Casshern Sins (キャシャーン Sins): October 2008 to March 2009 (Broadcasting station and dates depending on prefecture). Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi. Animation production by Madhouse, who was part of the "Casshern Sins Project" committee. Tatsunoko is only credited for the original work.

2010s

• Tachimals Theater (たちゅまる): October 4, 2010 to March 28, 2011 (Yomiuri TV). Directed by OKN (Satoshi Okano).
• SKET DANCE: April 7, 2011 to September 27, 2012 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Keiichiro Kawaguchi, and adapted from the manga by Kenta Shinohara.
• Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream (プリティーリズム・オーロラドリーム): April 9, 2011 to March 31, 2012 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Masakazu Hishida, and based on the arcade game by Takara Tomy and SinSophia.
• [C]: April to June 2011 (Fuji TV and other stations, broadcast dates vary). Directed by Kenji Nakamura
• ZIP! Good Morning Ninja Team Gatchaman (ZIP! おはよう忍者隊 ガッチャマン): April 18, 2011 to March 29,2013, with a short revival from August 19th to August 23, 2013 (Nippon Television). Directed by Isamu Ueno. Animation production by ODDJOB.
• Pretty Rhythm Dear My Future (プリティーリズム・ディアマイフューチャー): April 7, 2012 to March 30, 2013 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Masakazu Hishida.
• Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live (プリティーリズム・レインボーライブ): April 6, 2013 to March 29, 2014 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Masakazu Hishida.
• Muromi-san on the Shore (波打際のむろみさん): April to June 2013 (Broadcast length and stations vary). Directed by Tatsuya Yoshiwara, and based on the manga by Keiji Najima.
• Gatchaman Crowds (ガッチャマン クラウズ): July 13th to September 28th, 2013 (Nippon Television). Directed by Kenji Nakamura.
• Night Cherry Blossom Quartet ~A Flower's Song~ (夜桜四重奏 -ハナノウタ-): October 8th to December 29th, 2013 (Broadcast length and stations vary). Directed by Ryochimo.
• Wake Up, Girls!: January 10th to March 28th, 2014 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Hiroshi Yamamoto.
• Good Morning Hakushon Daimao (おはようハクション大魔王): March 31, 2014 to March 27, 2015 (Nippon Television). Directed by Isamu Ueno. Animation production by ODDJOB.
• Pretty Rhythm All Star Selection (プリティーリズム・オールスターセレクション): April 5th to June 14th, 2014 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Masakazu Hishida.
• PriPara (プリパラ): July 5, 2014 to March 28, 2017 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Makoto Moriwaki.
• Wake Up Girl ZOO! (うぇいくあっぷがーるZOO！): October 22, 2014 to February 25, 2015 (Nico Nico Douga). Directed by Kenshiro Morii.
• Yatterman Night (夜ノヤッターマン): January 11th to March 29th, 2015 (Tokyo MX). Directed by Tatsuya Yoshiwara.
• Good Morning!!! Doronjo (グッド・モーニング!!!ドロンジョ): March 30, 2015 to March 25, 2016 (Nippon Television). Directed by Isamu Ueno. Animation production by ODDJOB.
• Gatchaman Crowds insight (ガッチャマン クラウズ インサイト): July 5th to September 27th, 2015 (Nippon Television). Directed by Kenji Nakamura.
• Peeping Life TV Season 1?? (Peeping Life TV シーズン1？？): October 4th to December 20th, 2015 (Nippon Television). Directed by Ryoichi Mori.
• Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R (ナースウィッチ小麦ちゃんＲ): January 10th to March 27th, 2016 (Nippon Television). Directed by Keiichiro Kawaguchi.
• Time Bokan 24 (タイムボカン24): October 1, 2016 to March 18, 2017 (Yomiuri TV, Nippon Television). Directed by Takayuki Inagaki.
• Idle Time PriPara (アイドルタイムプリパラ): April 4, 2017 to March 27, 2018 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Makoto Moriwaki.
• Infini T-Force: October 3rd to December 26th, 2017 (Nippon Television). Directed by Kiyotaka Suzuki.
• Time Bokan: The Three Villains' Counterattack (タイムボカン　逆襲の三悪人): October 7, 2017 to March 24, 2018 (Yomiuri TV, Nippon Television). Directed by Takayuki Inagaki.
• Wake Up, Girls! New Chapter: October 10, 2017 to January 8, 2018 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Shin Itagaki.
• Kiratto Pri☆Chan (キラッとプリ☆チャン): April 8, 2018 to May 30, 2021 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Hiroshi Ikebata.
• The Price of Smiles (エガオノダイカ): January 4th to March 22nd, 2019 (WOWOW Prime). Directed by Toshimasa Suzuki.
• KING OF PRISM -Shiny Seven Stars-: April 16th to July 2nd, 2019 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Masakazu Hishida.

2020s

• Hakushon Daimao 2020 (ハクション大魔王２０２０): April 11th to September 26th, 2020 (Nippon Television). Directed by Atsushi Nigorikawa.
• MUTEKING THE DANCING HERO: October 3rd to December 19th, 2021 (TV Osaka). Directed by Sato Yuzo.
• Waccha Primaji! (ワッチャプリマジ!): October 3, 2021 to October 9, 2022 (TV Tokyo). Directed by Kosuke Kobayashi.
• Go For It! Choshu-kun (がんばれ！長州くん): August 2022 to March 2023 (Nippon Television). Directed by Yuta Koizumi.
• The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel: Northern War: January 8th to March 26th, 2023 (Tokyo MX). Directed by Eiichi Sato.

TV Specials and OVAs/ONAs

1970s

• Phantom Thief Lupin: The Mystery of 813: May 5, 1979 (Fuji TV). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.

1980s

• The Great Undersea War: 20,000 Miles of Love (海底大戦争 愛の20000マイル, Undersea Encounter): January 4, 1981 (Nippon Television). Directed by Koichi Mashita.
• Genesis Climber MOSPEADA: Love, Live, Alive: September 21, 1985.
• Outlanders (アウトランダーズ): December 16, 1986. Directed by Katsuhisa Yamada.
• Zillion: Burning Night (赤い光弾ジリオン 歌姫夜曲（バーニング・ナイト): June 21, 1988. Directed by Mizuho Nishikubo.

1990s

• Shurato: The Dark Fight for Genesis: September 16, 1991 to March 16, 1992 (6 volumes). Directed by Yoshihisa Matsumoto.
• Casshan: (4 volumes). Directed by Hiroyuki Fukushima.
• Time Bokan: Royal Revival: November 26, 1993 to January 1, 1994 (2 volumes). Directed by Akira Shigino.
• Space Knight Tekkaman Blade II: July 21, 1994 to April 21, 1995 (6 volumes). Directed by Hideki Tonkatsu.
• Gatchaman: October 1, 1994 to April 1, 1995 (3 volumes). Directed by Hiroyuki Fukushima.
• Hurricane Polymar: Holy Blood: September 21, 1996 to February 21, 1997 (2 volumes). Directed by Akiyuki Shinbo. It has been long believed there was to be a third episode, although Tatsunoko's official website denied it when asked in 1999: "Was the OVA New Hurricane Polymar discontinued after the second volume? I think there was a preview of a third volume though." "There were never any plans for a third volume from the start."
• Legend of the End of the Century: Wonderful Tatsunokoland -The Disc Alien UBO- (世紀末伝説ワンダフルタツノコランド -円盤星人UBO-): December 31, 1999 (TBS). Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.

2000s

• Nurse Witch Komugi-chan: August 23, 2002 to April 2, 2004. Directed by Yoshitomo Yonetani. Co-production with Kyoto Animation.
• Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Z: September 10, 2004 to September 22, 2005. Directed by Yoshitomo Yonetani.
• Sky Kids Booby: November 2004 to March 2009 (3 episodes).
• KARAS (鴉-KARAS-): May 28, 2005 to October 26, 2007 (6 volumes). Directed by Keiichi Sato.

2010s

• One Hit! Devander (発必中!!デバンダ): October 19, 2012. Directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa.
• Peeping Life: Tezuka Pro and Tatsunoko Pro Wonderland (Peeping Life-手塚プロ・タツノコプロ ワンダーランド):
• Science Ninya Team Gatchanyan (科学忍猫隊ガッチャニャン): October 27, 2018 to March 23, 2019.

Theatrical Films

1970s

• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman: The Movie

1980s

• Earth Story Telepath 2500

2000s

• Yatterman: The Big Decisive Battle in the Land of Toys

2010s

• The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee: The Movie
• Wake Up, Girls! The Seven Idols
• Pretty Rhythm All Star Selection Prism Show ☆ Best Ten
• Peeping Life: WE ARE THE HERO
• PriPara The Movie: Everyone Come On! Prism ☆ Tours
• Wake Up, Girls! The Shadow of Youth
• PriPara The Movie: Let's Aim for the Top! Idol Grand Prix
• Wake Up, Girls! Beyond the Bottom
• KING OF PRISM by Pretty Rhythm
• PriPara The Movie: Everyone's Dream ♪ Let's Go ☆ PriParis
• PriPara The Movie: Shine All Together! Kirarin Star Live!
• KING OF PRISM -Pride the Hero-
• Infini T-Force The Movie: Gatchaman Farewell My Friend: Released February 24, 2018. Directed by Jun Matsumoto.
• PriPara & Kiratto Pri☆Chan ~Kira Kira Memorial Live~

Shelved Productions and Pilots

Some of these productions have been outlined in books about Tatsunoko's history (the 30th Anniversary Sketch Book, Tatsunoko Pro Insiders, and Ippei Kuri's "Complete Works" and "PAST AND FUTURE"), or had appeared in the past on their website. It is unknown how many production documents and artwork Tatsunoko themselves may retain of these pitches to date, as they threw away or sold off many of their studio assets when they closed their original Takanodai animation studio in early 2007.

Some of these projects at least carried over in a reworked form (such as with Yatterman and Gold Lightan), while many others were left unrealized. Since Gatchaman itself was started under the codename of "Production #21", but was actually the twelfth work to make it out, it can be figured there are at least nine unproduced works that were unaccounted for prior to its release. There would inevitably be many more after as well, even spanning into the modern age.

It is worth noting that while some pilot films of anime may make it out on home video as extras, many are only intended to be seen as industry pitches and several have been lost or officially unreleased. This appears to be the case for Tatsunoko's pilots never being fully exhibited to the public, and some likely only known to the company themselves (and it is questionable if the reels are still in any good condition). Some series like Gatchaman are said to have never had pilots produced due to a fast-track schedule, while series like Mach Go Go Go and Temple the Balloonist apparently had some forms of pilot films to introduce them.

• Bomb Jump (爆弾ジャンプ): A proposed 1967 anime adaptation of Boy Sharp, the sequel to Space Ace. In this case, the story would've been rewritten to be separate from the continuity of Space Ace. Its placement in Tatsunoko's early intended production slate is unknown, although it may have predated Mach Go Go Go or have been intended to have been produced after. It may have also only gotten as far as the illustrations and not had an official planning establishment.
• Sky Fighter Z (スカイファイターＺ): Planned out in 1969 and produced through 1970, and intended to be Tatsunoko's Production No. 8 (though Inakappe Taisho wound up being that instead). Three episode reels are said to have been completed, while production lasted for about six episodes until the series was halted due to lack of sponsors and difficulties with the detailed style and animation. Tatsunoko would release a trailer composed of scenes from the three episodes as a pilot film on their Treasured Pilot Collection laserdisc in 1990, but what remains of the series has yet to ever be seen. It was directed by Ippei Kuri, with character designs and animation supervision by Tatsuo Yoshida. Originally pitched under the title Bun-Bun Yarou (ブンブン野郎).
• The Adventures of the Ant Child Chiroro (アリンコ　チロロの冒険): A Hutch-esque anime project that would have been about a young ant boy named Chiroro dropping out from his ant society to go on an adventure to prove his self-suffiency. Its exact reasons for being shelved are unknown, though some cel-style presentation art was completed. It is uncertain if it got as far as an actual pilot.
• The Great Man Akanbee (ゴーケツあかんべえ): A pilot episode was completed, and selections from it were shown in trailer form on the laserdisc. Very little about it has been revealed officially by Tatsunoko, though it is speculated to have been produced in 1972 around the time of Mokku/Pinocchio.
• Quick and Simple Tanmar (ちょちょいのタンマー): Produced in 1972. This 15-minute pilot film would later be reworked as the first Time Bokan series. It also had the later name of Tanmar Great Melee (タンマー大混戦). Some footage from the pilot is said to have been be re-used in the opening and series (though it is also possible such footage could be from a later Time Bokan pilot). This was Production No.26 for Tatsunoko.
• Time Dokkan (タイムドッカン): A pitch for a Time Bokan sequel that involved the return of Marjo's trio vs. a new duo of protagonists.
• The Legend of Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫), aka KAGUYAHIME: A pilot episode was completed, and some scenes were shown in trailer form on the laserdisc. Going by what's heard of an English narration behind Katsuji Mori's commentary, it seems there was intent to market this work overseas.
• The Little Mermaid: Sketches by Tatsuo Yoshida exist and are said to have been drafted up in 1974, but it is unknown if it also made it as far as a pilot film.
• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman Part 2 (科学忍者隊ガッチャマンPART2): A rejected broadcast extension plan/sequel for Gatchaman drafted in 1974 for Fuji TV, as recalled by Jinzo Toriumi and Satoshi Suyama. Some aspects of this pitch were carried over into the planning for Tekkaman the Space Knight the following year at NET. Any planning document that may have existed for this pitch seems to be mysterious, and it is unlikely it made it into the illustration concepts stage due to the swift rejection.
• Might Fever (マイトフィーバー): A Tatsunoko superhero pitch developed around the mid-1970s. Might Fever wears special super-conducting shoes that allow him to glide at high speed. Concept illustrations of Might Fever appear in the Ippei Kuri Complete Works artbook, while other artwork from the pitch can be seen in the PAST AND FUTURE artbook.
• Sky Delinquent (スカイ番長): A 1975 attempt at remaking the failed Sky Fighter Z. It appeared to only get as far as preliminary artwork before being rejected.
• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman 2 (科学忍者隊ガッチャマン2): A rejected, rough sequel proposal for Gatchaman, believed to have been made anywhere from 1976 to early 1978 before it was scrapped and replaced with a pitch titled New Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, which was eventually renamed Gatchaman II prior to Fuji TV's official broadcasting announcement. Unlike the prior Part 2, this sequel planning has had its text reprinted and some pieces of concept art were devised by Ippei Kuri.
• Yokai Prince Benbow (妖怪王子べンボウ): A 1978 proposal for an anime, its existence was brought to light in a 2017 Yahoo Auction of materials from an unidentified former Tatsunoko employee.
• Hell Human Gomen (魔界人間ゴーメン): A proposal for an anime that seems to have been made in the late 1970s to early 1980s, having appeared in the same Yahoo Auction account's lots. It may or may not be related to the above Benbow project, in being a renamed pitch or a separate anime with similar themes.
• Space Science Challenge Team Challendar (宇宙の科学挑戦隊チャレンダー): A sci-fi anime project announced by Ippei Kuri in the April 1979 issue of Animage, but which never wound up happening. It appears to have a sword-fighting aesthetic also seen in Sadamoebius below. The concept sketches were reprinted in Ippei Kuri's Complete Works artbook, as well as in PAST AND FUTURE.
• Divine Legend Sadamoebius (神伝説サダメビウス): An anime series that was intended to take over the time slot of Gatchaman Fighter, but was scrapped. Tatsunoko later had the intention of reworking the pitch as a movie and another series (announced in 1982), but this did not go forth either due to lack of sponsor interest (objections were the show's high intellectual level and the lack of items which could be turned into popular toys.). An illustrated novelization of Sadamoebius would be printed in the My Anime magazine through 1981 to 1982, in an attempt to build interest, and an album with image songs for the intended project was also released through Victor Entertainment. A proposed international title for the series, in a Japanese Fantasy Film Journal issue of 1982, was shown to be Destiny Squad.
• Excessive Wantaro (わるのりワン太郎): A 1980 pitch involving anthro animal characters, that instead by sponsor and network requests would gradually lead the way to the superhero comedy Muteking. In the proposal described by Tatsunoko, it would have been about a dog named Wantaro who would leave his hometown vowing to become famous in Tokyo. He then winds up experiencing chaos and hardships as he tries to take on different odd jobs, with the situations spinning out from there. One of Wantaro's obstacles would be a sexy cat woman named Otama who would always seduce and swindle him out of the money he'd earn (and who stole his living funds in the first place). Wantaro survived in a sense in the final Muteking series, with the idea of a talking anthro dog proving useful for Rin Yuki's pet Nubon.
• Excessive Transformer Jardeman (わるのり変身ジャルドマン): A revised pitch building on the above, with Wantaro moving to the city but winding up transformed into the superhero Jardeman after encountering the octopus alien Takoro. The Kurodako Brothers existed, but would transform into cats and other animals as disguises. This proposal eventually wound up combined with another rejected Tatsunoko project below (Mr. Hero) and continued the Jardeman name, before being re-titled as Muteking.
• The Beranbo 3 (ベランボー3): A superhero anime pitch involving a downtrodden trio of young men that were fired from the Earth Defense Force's group "Pink Tiger", by their sexy boss Farrah Corset-Damager (a parody of the Charlie's Angels actress Farrah Fawcett-Majors). They now must try to prove their case for being rehired by her in fighting as the private commando team Beranbo 3. A character named "Mr. Hero" would always show up to steal the attention and credit for solving their cases, and he would turn out to be Farrah's middle-aged superior in a superheroic form. It was rejected as being too bleak and serious for children, and a revised take called "Roller Warrior Mr. Hero" was proposed instead.
• The Roller Warrior Mr. Hero (ローラー戦士 MR.ヒーロー): An anime pitch about an international superhero quartet of young men who use special mecha. Their group name is the Beranbo 4. The youngest member Beranbo#4, a clumsy skater boy named Jin Todorock, has an additional super-identity as the roller-skating "Mr. Hero". This proposal would be rejected, but elements from it would be combined with Jardeman for the development of the Muteking project.
• Naughty Squadron Abaranger (わんぱく戦隊アバレンジャー): A survival story-themed pitch that was extensively rewritten to become Gold Lightan. This early iteration focused more on an 8-member human cast as the protagonists, living off an island in the South Sea and helping an alien fight enemy forces from space. It did not yet have robots like Gold Lightan. When an employee at Popy, Katsuji Murakami, drew a Zippo lighter-themed robot, his boss at the company (Yukimasa Sugiura) wanted to use the design for a new mecha anime and convinced Tatsunoko to rework Abaranger to involve this character.
• The Boy That Rode a Manta Ray (マンタに乗った少年): A pitch for an environmentalism-themed theatrical film that appears to have been done around the early 1980s, although there are no exact dates given in the Ippei Kuri artbook.
• Camiera (カミーラ): A 1982 pitch alluded to in the Tatsunoko 30th Anniversary book set, but with no details given besides some of its artwork. It appears to have a vampiric protagonist named Camiera (parodying the vampire Carmilla), and an illustration of a lady trio that were recycled for the Chinyuki Oshakaman pitch (before two were changed to men for the finalized Itadakiman).
• Space Penguin KuruKuru Pa-X (宇宙ペンギン くるくるパッX): A 1982 adaptation of the manga by Yuki Hijiri, which made it as far as a planning establishment and some settei of the characters including Pa-X and Princess Saria. Its existence was revealed in a 2017 Yahoo Auction listing.
• Iron Gicchon-kun (鉄腕ギッチョンくん): A comedic 1983 pitch that appears to have been slated to be directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa, with its existence first unveiled in a 2021 Yahoo Auction lot.
• Time Bokan Express: Daredaman (タイムボカンエクスプレス: ダレダマン): A further installment of the Time Bokan series, but did not progress due to the failure of Itadakiman. Its pitch was penned around 1983.
• M-Thunder (エム・サンダー): A 1984 remake of Mach Go Go Go, with the Masked Racer counterpart depicted as a woman. It only seemed to get as far as concept art and planning, but was scrapped due to lack of sponsor interest. Its existence was first revealed in the 1990s laserdisc set for Mach Go Go Go, in a booklet that mentioned both it as well as Sky Fighter Z and Sky Delinquent.
• Time Bokan Wars: Sappariman (タイムボカンウォーズ: サッパリマン): Another Time Bokan work that was planned around 1984 but later scrapped. This would have featured characters from past Time Bokan projects guest-starring to help the lead character fight against new enemies.
• New Hakushon Daimao (新ハクション大魔王): A 1985 sequel that would revolve around the genie family living in the modern day, with Akubi as a teenager and having a toddler brother named Kuchun who'd be summoned by a small sneeze. This pitch was showcased in the 1990s laserdisc set for the original Hakushon Daimao.
• Unknown Gatchaman remake: A remake proposal of Gatchaman from around 1989 that would include both elements of the first series and the sequels, particularly Joe as a cyborg and the death of Dr. Nambu (who would be replaced by a lady chief named Director Drake). Its existence was unveiled in a Tatsunoko employee's Yahoo Auction lot in 2022.
• Kurenai Sho (紅拳): A pitch that Ippei Kuri developed during his time as company president at Tatsunoko (1987-2005), though the exact year is not given in the artbook. It was aimed at being a martial arts story a bit different than Sanshiro (although a spiritual remake), with a sci-fi feeling.
• Cat Police Beranme (キャッ党警察べらんめえ): A 1991 sequel pitch to Legendary Ninja Cats.
• Unknown Gatchaman project: A child-friendly re-imagining of Gatchaman, pitched in 1996. Its details are currently unknown, other than a brief summary given in the book G-Force: Animated describing some of its concept art in which the Science Ninja Team were depicted as young kids. This was just one of the numerous 1990s remake projects that were planned at Tatsunoko in an attempt to revitalize their IPs, though only the 1997 Mach Go Go Go series would make it out (and fall short of its projected 52-episode run).
• Ninja GEKKO (月光 NINJYA GEKKOU): An animated re-imagining of Boy Ninja Squad Moonlight, pitched in 1997. A pilot was made in the form of a trailer for the series, but it did not progress any further.
• Dokachin: A colorized remake of Dokachin, produced in 1998. As with the Gazula remake, the original scripts and audio were recycled and the animation was rotoscoped and redone in color in digital animation outsourced to South Korea. All episodes were reportedly finished, but were left unaired and it would be an unreleased work similar to what was completed of Sky Fighter Z.
• Space Ace: A remake of Space Ace, planned in 1998. Concept art by Ippei Kuri was drawn up, and a colorized version of episode 41 was commissioned with rotoscoped and outsourced animation to test the waters for the project. Ultimately, the actual series would not happen due to lack of sponsors.
• Hakushon Daimao: A late '90s remake was planned for this series as well, but there was no sponsor interest.
• Yatterman: A remake of Yatterman, pitched to TV Tokyo in spring 1998 but plans fell through. It had Masaharu Amiya as the project head, due to Takao Koyama being hospitalized at the time. Kiramekiman would eventually be its successor.
• New Science Ninja Team Gatchaman: A remake project of Gatchaman pitched in 1998, which made it into planning stages until it was shelved due to lack of sponsors.
• Urashiman: A plan to remake this series was also launched in the late '90s, but did not get very far either.
• New Mokku of the Oak Tree: A '90s remake of this series was planned as a co-production with Mondo TV around the time of Kiramekiman's creation, but did not come to pass.
• M GO: A scrapped 2002 project of Mach Go Go Go, with concept sketches seen in Ippei Kuri's Complete Works artbook. This would've been a "renewal" of the short-lived '97 series, but taking it back to a more realistic racing setting.
• Time Bokan 2005: A remake series of Time Bokan that was planned but did not progress, after the buy-out by Takara-Tomy.
• Unknown Marvel and Tatsunoko collaboration anime: Announced in 2009 but it is unknown if it even made it as far as planning and concepts before the Disney-Marvel merger killed it. The full roster of IPs represented is also not known, other than the characters from Gatchaman and Yatterman being involved from Tatsunoko's side.
• Tekkaman the Space Knight: A remake of this work was pitched around 2010, but did not happen. It would have been an attempt to revive as well as continue the original Tekkaman series, in hopes to reach the story points it hadn't before.
• Mach Go Go Go: Tatsunoko announced plans for a remake of this series in 2015 as part of an initiative to re-introduce the property worldwide, but it never seemed to happen.

Companies that spun off from former staff and employees

After Tatsuo Yoshida's death, the exodus of employees would also mean the founding of many new studios or off-shoots that'd collaborate with Tatsunoko. While some would later go defunct, others are still active to the present day. The founders of the companies are listed in parentheses.

Active

• Kino Production (Toshio Kinoshita)
• Ashi Productions/Production REED (Toshihiko Sato, Hiroshi Kato)
• Actas (Hiroshi Kato)
• Studio Pierrot (Yuji Nunokawa, Hisayuki Toriumi, Masami Anno)
• Production IG (Mitsuhisa Ishikawa)
• PA Works (Kenji Horikawa)
• JC Staff (Tomoyuki Miyata): Collaborated on the Polymar OVA.
• TNK (Nagateru Kato)
• A-Line (Kazunori Hashimoto)
• Design Office Mechaman (Mitsuki Nakamura, Kunio Okawara)
• Azeta Pictures (Masanori Kobayashi)
• Tori Production (Jinzo Toriumi, Akiyoshi Sakai, Satoshi Suyama)
• Dragon Production (Masashi Nagai)
• Marix (Minoru Mukai)
• Production I (Torao Arai)
• Studio Easter (Junichi Azuma)
• Studio Taj (Toji Tsuchiya)

Defunct

• Artmic (Toshimitsu Suzuki): Collaborated on MOSPEADA, as well as the Gatchaman and Casshan OVA series.
• Studio Furumi (Yasumi Ishida)
• Green Box (Mitsuo Sato)
• RADIX (Motoki Ueda)
• Studio Unicorn (Yoshikazu Tochihira)
• Animation 21 (Hiroshi Sasagawa, Koji Sugii, Yoshikazu Tochihira, Seitaro Hara)
• Arts Pro (Yasunori Honda)
• Bee Train (Koichi Mashita, Kenji Horikawa)

Companies that licensed from Tatsunoko

This list is not complete, but covers companies from in or outside Japan that would license Tatsunoko's works for international audiences; many countries enjoyed the importation of these series.

Italy

Italy received many of Tatsunoko's works through the late 1970s through the 1980s and onward. Unfortunately, in the cases of some shows that previously aired uncensored, Italian networks and studios were later required to dub whatever series Saban Entertainment had adapted, creating a great confusion at shows that looked familiar but had incredibly different names and were Americanized.

As with the case of South Korea, fans tend to find it easier to break up the licenses by distribution companies and networks, although there are cases where just the TV channels or studios are also used to divide the licenses in a listing.

Italian TV Broadcasting

• Mach Go Go Go - Localized as Super Auto Mach 5 Go! Go! Go!
• Hakushon Daimao - Localized as The Big-Bellied Wizard Etci (Il Mago Pancione Etcì)
• Neo-Human Casshan - Localized as Kyashan the Android Boy (Kyashan il Ragazzo Androide)
• The New Insect Story of Orphan Hutch- Localized as The Return of Maga the Bee (Il ritorno dell'Ape Magà). As with the dub of the first series, Hutch's name and change to a girl bee continued.
• Hurricane Polymar - Localized as Hurricane Polimar.
• Tekkaman the Space Knight - Localized as Tekkaman.
• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman II and Fighter - Localized as the second and third seasons of Gatchaman: Battle of the Planets (Gatchaman: Battaglia dei Pianeti).

Doro TV Merchandising

• Sanshiro Kurenai - Localized as Judo Boy
• The Insect Story of Orphan Hutch - Localized as The Adventures of Maga the Bee (Le Avventure dell'Ape Magà). Hutch was renamed "Maga" and translated as a girl bee to emulate the competing "Maya the Bee" series. Coincidentally, it is said Tatsuo Yoshida had originally drawn a girl bee for the Hutch pitch but Jinzo Toriumi suggested the character be made a boy and wrote the planning as such.

South Korea

When localization efforts are often noted for this country, they tend to relate to the networks that dubs were broadcast on rather than possible studios behind them. It is not unheard of for there to be an entirely new dub commissioned when the show airs on another network, and there are often times that these dubs become lost or destroyed and unavailable on modern home video.

Tongyang Broacasting Channel

This network aired dubs of different Tatsunoko series, until a halt on broadcasting Japanese media stalled such efforts.

• Mach Go Go Go - Localized as Run, Lightning
• Sanshiro Kurenai - Localized as Judo Boy
• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman - Localized as Eagle 5 Brothers
• Neo-Human Casshan - Localized as Casshan, Boy of Justice
• Time Bokan- Localized as Fly Taegeuk
• Yatterman - Localized as Win, Victory
• Paul's Miraculous Adventure - Localized as Pippi in Wonderland

Korean Broadcasting System

• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman - Localized as Eagle 5 Brothers
• Kerokko Demetan
• Paul's Miraculous Adventure - Localized as Paul in Wonderland
• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman II - Localized as Eagle 5 Brothers II
• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman Fighter - Localized as Eagle 5 Brothers F
• Cheerful Dwarves of the Forest: Belfy and Lillibit - Localized as The Fairies in the Woods

Seoul Broadcasting System

• Time Bokan - Localized as Fly Lightning
• Paul's Miraculous Adventure - Localized as Paul in Wonderland
• Muteking the Dashing Warrior - Localized as Roller King Power King

GoldStar Video

A VHS company that Tatsunoko had a deal with in the 1980s, that released a few of its titles.

• Tekkaman the Space Knight - Localized as Ironclad Knight of the Universe
• Mach Go Go Go
• Gowapper 5 Godam - Localized as Computer Robot

Sam Boo Video

Sam Boo and Tatsunoko had a deal in the 1980s for select titles to be licensed and marketed on VHS with Korean dubbing. These are the licenses known to have been held by Sam Boo as part of their VHS lines until the company's dissolution in 1995:

• Sanshiro Kurenai - Localized as Typhoon Boy
• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman - Localized as Eagle Commandos/Gechaman
• Mokku of the Oak Tree
• Neo-Human Casshan
• Hurricane Polymar
• Time Bokan - Localized as Fly Taegeuk
• Tekkaman the Space Knight - Localized as Ironclad Man
• Paul's Miraculous Adventure
• Gordian the Warrior - Localized as Hero Gordian
• Muteking the Dashing Warrior - Localized as Invincible Muteking/Space Warrior Muteking
• Golden Warrior Gold Lightan - Localized as Golden Lightan
• Genesis Climber MOSPEADA - Localized as Recapture of the Earth/Mospeda

Samjung Planning

This company apparently exploited some sort of loophole in their contract with Tatsunoko's outsourcing studio Anime Friend, to make a special Gatchaman movie exclusive for South Korea that they claimed was a legitimate production, although it was evidently done without Tatsunoko's permission or knowledge. This movie was a loose adaptation of Gatchaman II under the Eagle 5 Brothers branding.

USA

Titra Studios

This was an ADR studio that was prominent around the 1960s for dubbing, and lasted until the 1980s. They adapted Mach Go Go Go on behalf of Trans-Lux (see the "One-Offs" section), as well as anime from the Tatsunoko Bible Trilogy.

• Mach Go Go Go- Localized as Speed Racer
• Anime Parents and Children Theatre - Localized as Superbook
• The Flying House Adventure - Localized as The Flying House
• PC Travel Detectives - Localized as Superbook season 2

Harmony Gold

Harmony Gold and Tatsunoko had a deal in the early to mid 1980s for Harmony Gold to distribute various titles of theirs, and some catalog entries of Tatsunoko that bear strangely localized names (such as Yatterman, Godam, and Casshan) were seemingly remnants of this plan, whether or not Harmony Gold had ever actually done anything with such titles; the proposed localized Yatterman names did make it into an Italian dub, though.

These are the licenses known to have been held and then dropped by Harmony Gold. It is unknown whether or not any materials survive for some more obscure licenses, or if those dub masters had been returned to Tatsunoko:

• Mokku of the Oak Tree - Localized as the compilation film The Adventures of Pinocchio, co-produced by Jim Terry.
• Kerokko Demetan - Localized as two compilation films of The Brave Frog (originally titled "The Frog Boy" in solicitations) and as a TV dub Adventures on Rainbow Pond. The films saw TV and home video releases, while the series never aired in the USA but was sourced for other international dubs.
• Time Bokan- Localized as two compilation films of Time Patrol, but went unreleased in the USA possibly due to Jim Terry's competing compilation film dubs titled Time Fighters a year before. The first film was at least sourced for foreign dubs, incluing a Russian overdub.
• Temple the Balloonist- Localized as two compilation films of Tiffany's Traveling Band, and as a TV dub Sabrina's Journey. Neither of these dubs seemed to make it out, although a Latin American Spanish dub seems to have been based off the "Sabrina" version.
• The Great Undersea War: 20,000 Miles of Love- Released as Undersea Encounter
• Super Dimensional Cavalry Southern Cross and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA- Combined with The Super Dimension Fortress Macross and released as Robotech. A most controversial case due to Harmony Gold and best to leave it at that.

Harmony Gold may have also been behind the mysterious dubbed pilot of Muteking, which was done in 1984 and screened at NATPE, although it was still in a workprint state (similar to their in-progress pilot of MOSPEADA). They did have involvement in Urban Vision's dub of the Gatchaman OVA, and would sometimes be credited for the rights into the 2000s.

A Harmony Gold employee John Rocknowski would be pivotal in founding the infamous Speed Racer Enterprises, which would hold the rights for Mach Go Go Go from 1991 to 2013.

Saban Entertainment

Saban was another big licensor of Tatsunoko's catalog, starting to market their works in the 1980s and spanning to the 1990s, and not discriminating in how old the series were; this however, would also prove a problem in marketing them. These series were often heavily edited and Americanized, as well as their episode counts reduced for syndication purposes. Saban would also have licensing rights over many other countries, who would then be required to use these dubs as the basis for their own.

These are the known licenses:

• Hakushon Daimao - Localized as Bob in a Bottle
• The Insect Story of Orphan Hutch - Localized as Honeybee Hutch
• Kabatotto - Localized as The Wacky World of Tic & Tac
• Mokku of the Oak Tree- Localized as The Adventures of Pinocchio
• Tamagon the Counselor - Localized as Eggzavier the Eggasaurus
• Urikupen Rescue Team- Localized as Jungle Tales
• Paul's Miraculous Adventure- Seemingly localized as Pauly's Mad Mad World; this is shown in a Saban sales catalog of the late 1980s, however, it is unknown if it ever made it as far as even a pilot or if a full dub was produced but sat on a shelf, or if they got nowhere at all.
• Cheerful Dwarves of the Forest: Belfy and Lillibit- Localized as The Littl' Bits
• Future Policeman Urashiman - Localized as Rock'n Cop
• Legendary Ninja Cats - Localized as Samurai Pizza Cats
• Science Ninja Team Gatchaman II and Science Ninja Team Gatchaman Fighter- Localized as Eagle Riders
• Space Knight Tekkaman Blade- Localized as Teknoman

Streamline Pictures

A company that spun off from Harmony Gold when Carl Macek left, founded by him and Jerry Beck. This was for more mature anime licenses, as well as releasing some in both subbed and dubbed format, but the company did not last long in active licensing due to financial issues and being bought out by Orion Pictures.

• Red Photon Zillion- The first 5 episodes and the Burning Night OVA were dubbed.
• Casshan (OVA)- Localized as Casshan: Robot Hunter with the episodes edited to be a single film.

Streamline was also responsible for the release of the Speed Racer: The Movie compilation film, a production of the below company.

Speed Racer Enterprises

This company had everything to do with marketing everything "Speed Racer", even after their license should have expired and the rights should have reverted to Tatsunoko. This and their unauthorized usage of the IP and characters after that point led to a lawsuit, upon which Tatsunoko regained all rights to Mach Go Go Go. You can figure that at least things wound up resolved easier than the situation with Harmony Gold vs. Big West.

• Mach Go Go Go (1997) - Localized as the pilot Speed Racer Y2K (via ADR studio Ocean), and then as the short-lived Speed Racer X, until a lawsuit between Speed Racer Enterprises and DiC Entertainment (who was hired to localize it through the ADR studio Media Concepts) killed it from going further than the 13 episodes they adapted.

In addition to this, Speed Racer Enterprises was in charge of many Western productions using the characters and concepts, and continued to market the original Speed Racer dub. It is for this sheer multitude of media that prevents it from being a mere "one-off" as some other companies (even if ones like Sandy Frank were quite prolific in their licensing output and length of rightsholding).

ADV Films

Best known for sub-licensing the Gatchaman rights through Sandy Frank to do their uncut dub of the series that finally covered all 105 episodes; they had also managed to pull off a similar feat with an uncut Macross dub, to mixed reviews and results as well.

Sadly, ADV's implosion and closure happened a few years later as well as Sandy Frank's 30-year contract expiring, leaving Gatchaman without a legal USA release until Sentai Filmworks thankfully took the reigns.

Other licenses by ADV from Tatsunoko included:

• Generator Gawl
• Nurse Witch Komugi-chan

Sentai Filmworks

This company made a deal with Tatsunoko to release at least 10 of their titles, Gatchaman included, but it took a long time for whatever other titles there were to be put out. Other than inheriting the ADV Films dub of the original Gatchaman and dubbing the compilation movie and '90s OVA, plus any dubs of Gatchaman Crowds, other Sentai licenses were either sub-only or other companies' dubs relicensed (like the Time Bokan OVA).

Besides license-rescuing Gatchaman and the remake OVA, and the Time Bokan: Royal Revival OVA, these were licenses new to Sentai but some were streaming-only on HIDIVE:

• Gatchaman II and Fighter
• Gatchaman CROWDS and its sequel Insight
• Sanshiro Kurenai (marketed as Judo Boy)
• Neo Human Casshan
• Golden Warrior Gold Lightan
• Future Policeman Urashiman
• Nice to Meet You, Mecha-Doc

Sentai Filmworks has also licensed the Battle of the Planets localization, yet has never done a home video release to date.

One-Offs

These companies were known to have licensed only one particular Tatsunoko title, but did what they could to market them to success or failure.

Trans-Lux

This company was the original rightsholder of Mach Go Go Go, localized as Speed Racer in the USA. They held the license until 1991, when Speed Racer Enterprises was founded.

Sandy Frank Entertainment

The company responsible for having localized the original Gatchaman into Battle of the Planets, and then going for things a second time around in ordering the new localization of G-Force: Guardians of Space (although Turner was more in charge there for overseeing it).

Sandy Frank had extensive rights to Gatchaman in many countries, thus requiring them to use Battle of the Planets as the basis or G-Force: Guardians of Space as that later on. Although there seemed to be initial plans to license Gatchaman II in late 1978, these did not happen and Saban was able to swipe it and Fighter up in their mass Tatsunoko licensing of the 1990s. Sandy Frank's license ultimately lasted 30 years, with having gone through an extension, until all rights reverted to Tatsunoko Production in 2007.

William Winckler Productions

Localized Tekkaman the Space Knight, but was only able to afford to dub 13 episodes. William Winckler had hoped that if the VHSes sold well, he would eventually be able to dub the back half of the series or license more Tatsunoko action titles such as Casshan and Polymar, but this did not pan out.

Fred Patten, who had headed up the USA Tatsunoko Fanclub at the time, was hired by Winckler to do the English adaptation scripts, and was in charge of localizing various character names.

The Case of Frontier Enterprises

Frontier Enterprises was a dubbing company founded in Tokyo in 1964 by the expat William Ross, and was responsible for multiple English-language dubs of both live-action and animated works from Japan.

While Frontier unfortunately did not fully document all of the titles they worked on, and many went unreleased or lost, there are some English dubs of Tatsunoko titles that have been suspected to be of their doing due to the time period they were released in as well as having been broadcast in Australia where Frontier-based dubs tended to pop up. Other Tatsunoko works that were confirmed to be dubbed by Frontier did not seem to get a release, but were remembered by Ross himself.

The below list should be treated as speculative and may not (or ever) be complete:

• Space Ace
• I'm Gazula
• Sanshiro Kurenai- Localized as Judo Boy
• The Insect Story of Orphan Hutch - Localized as Honeybee Hutch (confirmed by Ross in his biography)
• Tekkaman the Space Knight (an alternate dub aired in Australia during the 1970s, by recollection of Kelly Patrick Lannan)

There is also the case of the mysterious Gatchaman localization The Gutman which appeared offered with other titles by Tatsunoko and Yomiko through the BIB Channels/Television Programming Source Book in the 1980s to early 1990s. This dub was listed by Yomiko as comprising 39 episodes, but its exact year of creation was not clarified. Going by how Frontier had been behind dubs that had never even managed to net a sale or release, and had already been associated with licensing different Tatsunoko works, there is a very probable chance that William Ross had a hand in this one as well. Sadly, the BIB catalog listing would seem to be the only evidence left of its existence.

Frontier Enterprises also entirely shuttered its business in 2000, after having moved away from film and animation dubbing to focus on video games instead. It is unknown if they held onto the reels of their works before then, or if they were discarded at some point or after their closure.

External links

• Official site (English version)